Ron Paul Defends Secession: "Very Much American" (VIDEO)

Texas Governor Rick Perry may be on the receiving end of some political mockery for his recent endorsement of his home state's right to secede from the country. But he has the backing of one decidedly anti-establishment Republican from the Lone Star State.

Rep. Ron Paul released a video on Sunday offering support for the principles of secession, calling them "very much American." And he described Perry's recent talk about pulling Texas out of the union a discussion worth having.

"We came together voluntarily," said Paul. "A free society means you can resolve it voluntarily."

The decidedly libertarian Texas Republican and former presidential candidate is one of the few elected national figures to offer support for the stance taken by his governor. And it's not unexpected. The tea parties that Paul's candidacy helped galvanize were the same forum where Perry expressed some of his sentiments.

In his video address, Paul framed talk of secession as a uniquely American right, pulled straight from the same thread as the American Revolution.

[Perry] really stirred some of the liberal media, where they started screaming about: 'what is going on here, this is un-American.' I heard one individual say 'this is treasonous to even talk about it.' Well, they don't know their history very well, because when you think about it... it is very American to talk about secession. That's how we came in being. Thirteen colonies seceded from the British and established a new country. So secession is a very much American principle. What about all the strong endorsements we have give the past decade or two to all the republics that seceded from the soviet system? We were delighted about it.

"I think it is worth a discussion," said Paul, later in his four-and-a-half minute long video. "I think people should discuss this. Because right now the American people are sick and tired of it all. And I think the time will come when people will consider it much more seriously, is when the federal government can no longer deliver. That will come when the dollar collapses."

The real obstacle to any such discussion, in the end, is legal as much as political. The Joint Resolution Annexing Texas to the United States of 1845 allows for Texas to be drawn into five separate states but not secede from the union.

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Comments

[TremoluxMan]

The former satellite nations in the defunct USSR were sovereign nations before they were either forced or coerced into joining the USSR. They didn't secede. The the USSR collapsed and disintegrated. They regained their freedom and former independent sovereign status.

World History 101, Ron.

[patricksmom]

The former satellite nations in the USSR were not joined by a constitution, but were conquered by Russia. So what is your point?

[TremoluxMan]

My point is that Paul is trying to say the former Soviet satellite states seceded from the USSR.

What about all the strong endorsements we have give the past decade or two to all the republics that seceded from the soviet system? - Ron Paul.

That is a stretch at the very least. Those nations never willingly joined the USSR; they were taken over by it. While they had the right to secede under the Soviet constitution, it was a meaningless 'right'. Look what happened to Hungary and the Czech Republic when they tried for independence. The former Soviet republics regained their independence with the collapse of the USSR. They may have signed a document of secession to formalize this, a mere technicality. They didn't and couldn't stand up to an all-powerful USSR in its prime and secede. They would have been crushed, like Hungary and the Czech Republic.

[ftaco2004]

Here is a link for you to read.

Sure, it's Wikipedia, but it's worth the time. Both of you make correct points.

Also, it's interesting to note what led to their collapse and what we are doing as a nation now; something Ron Paul has repeated for years but will now go unnoticed until we get to a point of near total collapse in a few years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_the_USSR

[amadorjon]

us history- states form the union not vice a versa..

as thoreau pointed out there is nothing rightous about a majority vote in a nation, a dissenting viewpoint can be crushed as easily in a democracy as in a totalitarian government!!!!

like Jefferson said revolution is good, no country should go long without one......

I say let any state that votes democratically to secede has that right,

[patricksmom]

I think that in Jefferson's presidency he sent federal troops to put down minor rebellions...and I don't believe that he had in mind endless armed revolutions.

[peacegurl48]

George W. Bush could be the King of Texas!

[ReealOne]

If Texas wants to secede, let 'em 'git'. But hear this. We want ALL of our "stuff" back..... including the land, all of the military sites, and ALL the funds we've ever funneled their way, including all the "disaster relief" assistance.... and we want it now. We will not allow any 'payment' plans. And, we hope that you will be able to provide for your "nation" social security, retirement, medicare/medicad, welfare, you know, all the "stuff" with help from the FEDERAL govt. of the USA.

Perhaps Gov. Perry, Tom Delay, Ron Paul, and the other "foolish zealots" should take a moment to "think" before declaring such and UN-American act as secession, or at the very least, don't drink or take drugs and get on a microphone in front of a crowd with this nonsense.

Let's see how "independent" Texas REALLY is..... come on now, stop talking about secession, and show us. You don't want the USA... then we don't want Texas. Now 'GIT'.

[iblog]

:(

[NikoTes]

Texas is the 2nd most populated state in the U.S. We get to keep what were taxed for.

If you ACTUALLY listen to Ron Paul you would learn that you would have more freedom under a more libertarian government. This is not about Republicans or Democrats. We have not had a good commander in chief since JFK. They are all puppets.

Oh yeah, Texas has more guns than any other state too! :)

[MajorKong]

Texas has proportionately way more military installations than any other state with comparable population.

That has much more to do with the power of Texas' congressional lobby over the years than population or federal taxes paid.

[Birdman]

Ooooo I'm scart all them thar guns... Seriously did you proofread what you posted? Libertarians only want less government for their rich Friends they are no different than republicans they just have a better way of convincing gun toting Texans that they too will have less government. One question what is Ole Ron's stance on Abortion? If he is against it he certainly isn't for less government because that in itself is the most intrusive the government can get.

[ReealOne]

Yeah... we KNOW you have more guns. It looks like the ONLY thing that out number the guns are the amount of nutjobs. That's something to brag about?! Wow.... just wow.

[WowJones]

Internet tough guy.

[elimenez]

Well, I'll tell you one thing with a 25% health insurance rate, you at least are free of healthcare.

[NoOneSpecial]

This is another reason why Ron Paul will never have a viable candidacy for President.

While he can be absolutely brilliant about calling out social conservatives on their wing-nut religious views, he can be just as seismically wrong about other things that really have nothing to do with left-right politics.

Making the analogy that Texas is like the fledgling American Colonies or the Eastern Block countries talking about breaking free from a repressive regime... after 3 months of having a democratically elected President take on the job of cleaning up the huge mess left by three decades of fiscal mismanagement is just WRONG!

[NikoTes]

He will not be a viable candidate because he is not a puppet like Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, etc....

[Birdman]

Ya sure, he won't be a viable candidate when he spues invalid bull caca like this.

[patricksmom]

No he is not viable, because he is looney. Americans like President Obama, you can take Ron Paul, Perry, Palin and company and find a nice little island for yourselves.

[McChimp]

And this is why Ron Paul will never be President, he is more batshitcrazy than George W. Bush.

How ironic that they both come from the same idi0tic state.

[iblog]

:(

[NikoTes]

Too bad you are brain-locked. Wake up! Republicans and Democrats are the same. Get past the moral issues and they are all controlled by the money.

Ron Paul is from Pennsylvania.

[sticksnstones]

Wrong. Ron Paul is from the Land of OZ.

[Tommygun264]

Leave.

[patricksmom]

No state has a monopoly on the ridiculous. Moral issues are important to me and even there you admit there are differences. Go home and get some sleep.

[barackobama4prez]

if they try to secede from the union,...uh..how is that American lol...they will be Texans, not Americans, since they will no longer be apart of America. But it's nto going to happen. Prez O will NOT let anyone rip a star or stripe off the flag on his watch. let's get real here. the guy honors and reveres Lincoln for goodness sake.

[barackobama4prez]

doesn't surprise me in the least. i knew ron was cuckoo for cocoa puffs. he's a radical in alot of ways.

[slj316]

They're great Americans and patriots huh? I say let them go become a part of Mexico again. Texas will be begging to rejoin the United States when a natural disaster hits or those Mexican drug cartels become too much for the Texas rangers to handle.

[sandy77477]

My thought exactly...I live in Texas but I would have to move to the union...I do not own a gun.

[patricksmom]

Welcome Sandy,\
Come to Ky and help us clean up the red disaster.

[AndyWright68]

I challenge any of you to visit http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/ and watch the movies and videos. Then come back and try to defend the Obama socialist movement.

Don't fear the truth. Look at the big picture http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/

I'm sorry to have to leave but more then half of my responses are being censored. This blog is so one sided. You people should really open your minds a little. Let some truth sink in. http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/

[sticksnstones]

Translation : I have no fact-supported arguments, so go read what a bunch of fellow whackos say about the guy who won a fair election last November. You people are asking me to explain my opinions. I can't do that, so I'm going to move on to Fox News for the rest of the evening. They do my thinking for me.

[AndyWright68]

I've replied many times with facts you can't handle. Your overseer is not allowing my responses through. Scared to go to my fact filled blog and see the truth? http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/

[SOLERSO68]

Andy. i admit to coming off a little "one sided" in fact i consider myself a left libertarian. i dont support american drug policy, foreign policy or wars for profit. i think we are on the way to a police state, but NONE of that is pres obamas doing. i'll go to your movie site, if you agree to read

The Big Three in Economics: Adam Smith, Karl Marx, And John Maynard Keynes

ALEXIS DETOQUEVILLES "democracy in america"

the WHOLE constitution

and get at least 1 hour per day of your information from the NY time,the jim lehrer news hour, or BBC americas world news tonight, AND watch frontline once a month. you can continue to listen to,read, or watch whatever else you want.

[AndyWright68]

I didn't blame Obama for doing the damage I blame him for making this disaster worse.I will check out you recommended reading but not because of you conditions.You should check out http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/ for your own benefit.

[SOLERSO68]

dont flatter yourself. your not being "censored" any more than i am. there are hundreds of comments to go through.

[AndyWright68]

Why are half of mine not showing up?

[unkone2]

I suggest that you one time put aside your prejudice and see what is really happening here. Let's say you don't like what Obama is doing... ans. is his actions sincere or are they suspect? Whatever, your ans. I am willing to bet that you have never ever preach your silliness about other Presidents who has been attacked from day one. So you hate the ideal of a Black guy being the number one... this is America, and in America like it or not whomever is the President is the President, and whoever try to constantly belittl him on a national sage is anti-America. Join the 21st century, dirty boy or die in the 19th.

[AndyWright68]

I had great hope for Obama. I like him as much as any of you and I believe he has good intentions. The fact remains he is stealing money we do not have and giving it to his friends on Wall St. Bush did the same. Most posters here try to make this a racial issue. It tells me those people are worried. Nobody I know cares if our president is black or half black or 6.75% black as the case is now. Really who cares. I just want him to do the right thing.

[patricksmom]

We don['t fear the truth. It looks like you don't know the truth. Just keep listening to Rush for your news.

[AndyWright68]

2nd reply

I don't like Rush. Never have. I actually form my own opinions based on provable facts. Unlike most posters here who regurgitate the MSM programing.

[sticksnstones]

There is no differentiation between a Libertarian and a Conservative Republican. There is an ocean of spilled blood in common.

[patricksmom]

So true sticks.....both would have bake sales to help victims of natural disaster.

[peacegurl48]

I find this shocking especially considering the bloody horror of our Civil War. These people say they love America? Int he depths of the Bush years I never heard anyone on the Left suggest secession.

This is thinking is a far greater threat to future generations than the Federal deficit.

[riverrat20009]

There will be no civil war. We just go our separate ways.

[barackobama4prez]

um, NO. The Prez will NOT allow TX to secede...WTF? Lincoln is a role model...how would that work?

[unkone2]

PEACH TO TEACH....

[docallen001]

I thought we had a civil war that resolved the issue of state secession? Texas certainly knows where the federal government is when a hurricane is approaching and afterwards when reconstruction funds are needed.

[riverrat20009]

The new confederate states will take care of themselves.

[BIG JOHN]

30% TO FUNNY. WHO WON THE ELECTION?

[SOLERSO68]

Barrak Obama won the election, goofy, havent you been watching fox news?

[TedB]

I say let Texas secede, THEN build the border fence along the southern borders of New Mexico and Oklahoma.

[Jun58]

Now I know this guy is one brick short of a load. He pulled off an embarrassing recent appearance with Bill Maher when asked about the financial crisis, his answer was bring back the gold standard. This is a guy steeped in the sentimentality of the nineteenth century when the west was wild and the robber barons could ride on through the country 'cause there was no reasonalbe government intervention to think off and the world was raw. Not so today. Libertarians are more dangerous than conservatives. They cling to this crazy "don't tread on me" ideology. It's more destructive.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

The Libertarian ideology is that nothing good has happened since the writing of the Constitution and any decisions we've made as a society since then are meaningless and never for a good reason. Wait until there are secessions within the secessionist Texas - Libertarian is just another term for someone living with blinders on.

[WowJones]

You've got his philosophy down cold. I don't know how he has so many followers.

[CognitoErgoSum]

How is session "American," when the very act, if successful, which put you outside America's borders?